TEMECULA, Calif. – John Salter beat Aaron Jeffery with a unanimous decision Friday on the main card at Bellator 293 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.
Take a look inside the fight with Salter, a former Bellator middleweight title challenger who announced his retirement after the win.
Aaron Jeffery vs. John Salter
Result: John Salter def. Aaron Jeffery via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Salter (19-6 MMA, 9-3 BMMA), Jeffery (13-4 MMA, 2-1 BMMA)
Key stat: Salter finished his career with finishes in 17 of 19 fights.
Salter on the fight's key moment
“It would’ve been great to get an easy fight to go out on, but it was really good, too. I knew this last camp, I had to treat it like I’m fighting for a world title to be able to come out with a win. And it wasn’t exciting. I know some people booed and didn’t like it, but if you think I wanted to lay there and squeeze him for that long, you’re wrong. I wanted out. So it was just what I had to do.”
Salter on retirement
“I knew I was done. I’m 38. I’ve been competing at a pretty high level since middle school and high school, and I’m just ready to move on to a part of my life where I live vicariously through other people in the gym.”
Salter on what he wants next
“I’ll say the only way that I come back is if Costello Van Steenis wins the title and wants to fight me again. That’d be the only way I come back. I know he really wants to fight me again. I lost a few years off my life in that fight, but I’ll do it again if he’s got the title. That’s the only way.”
To hear more from Salter, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 293.
